The allegations from at least five underage victims took place when [John Thomas Patterson, Jr.] was a fourth grade teacher at Mount Mourne Elementary School in Mooresville during the 1980s. "Initially, five potential victims were identified, all under the age of 16 at the time, but throughout the investigation, other names have come forward," said the Sheriff's Office in a statement. "As the investigation continues, it is probable that more charges will be filed against Patterson." One male victim said he was molested several times and that Patterson fondled his genitals outside his clothes at least 14 times, investigators say. Officials added that there are some other people who gave statements that would support the allegations but don't want to pursue charges and open old wounds. ​

John Thomas Patterson, Jr., 65, was arrested Friday and charged with 14 counts of taking indecent liberties with children. These charges stem from a five month investigation after deputies were informed by a citizen that Patterson may have inappropriately touched several children. The alleged incidents occurred while Patterson was a 4th grade teacher at Mount Mourne Elementary School during the 1980s. Many of the reported sexual assaults occurred in the classroom, while others may have happened in several different locations. Five potential victims were identified, all under the age of 16 at the time, but throughout the investigation, other names have come forward. ​

John Thomas Patterson Jr., 65, of Mooresville, NC was arrested on Friday, February 15, 2013 by Sgt. Amy Dyson of the Iredell County Sheriff's Office Special Victim's Unit with 14 counts of Taking Indecent Liberties with Children. These charges stem from a five month investigation after a concerned citizen came to the Iredell County Sheriff's Office, and reported they had information that Tom Patterson had touched several children inappropriately. These incidents allegedly occurred while he was a 4th grade teacher at Mount Mourne Elementary School, during the 1980's.

It is alleged that many of the sexual assaults occurred in the classroom, while others occurred in different locations. Initially, five potential victims were identified, all under the age of 16 at the time, but throughout the investigation, other names have come forward. As the investigation continues, it is probable that more charges will be filed against Patterson. Patterson was placed under a $100,000 bond for these charges.

The Sheriff's Office is working together with Iredell Statesville Schools to gather information about students who attended Mount Mourne School during this time. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Iredell County Sheriff's Office at 704-878-3183. ​

John Thomas Patterson Jr., 65, of Mooresville, was arrested Friday after a five-month investigation that started with a tip from the public. Patterson was charged with 14 counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. According to the sheriff’s office someone approached detectives in September and reported having information that Patterson allegedly had touched several children inappropriately in the 1980s. At the time, Patterson -- known as Tom Patterson -- was a fourth-grade teacher at Mount Mourne Elementary School. Some of the incidents allegedly happened in the classroom, investigators say, while others occurred in other places. Detectives say five alleged victims were identified initially, and each was under the age of 16 at the time of the incidents. But during the investigation, they say, the names of other possible victims have surfaced.​

Recent high-profile sex abuse cases around the country may have prompted an Iredell man to come forward with accusations against a 65-year-old former Mount Mourne Elementary School teacher, law- enforcement officers say. John Thomas Patterson Jr. of Mooresville was arrested last Friday by the Iredell County Sheriff's Office Special Victim's Unit and charged with 14 counts of taking indecent liberties with children while he was a teacher at Mount Mourne Elementary School during the 1980's. The charges stem from a five-month investigation after a man provided information to the Sheriff's Office alleging that Patterson had touched several children inappropriately, Capt. Darren Campbell said. Sgt. Amy Dyson of the Special Victims Unit said in a press release that many of the reported sexual assaults occurred in the classroom, while others occurred in different locations. Five victims were initially identified, she said, all under age 16 at the time. However, Dyson said other potential victims have since come forward and that more charges against Patterson are "probable."​

More potential sexual abuse victims of a former Mount Mourne Elementary School teacher [John Thomas Patterson] have come forward since Monday’s announcement of his arrest, authorities say ... Sgt. Amy Dyson of the Special Victims Unit said five potential victims were identified during the investigation, and that many of the reported sexual assaults occurred in the classroom, while others occurred in different locations. All five alleged victims were under age 16 at the time, Dyson said. Dyson said Tuesday afternoon that more potential victims have come forward and that the SVU received “quite a few” calls Tuesday morning, in the wake of Monday’s announcement of Patterson’s arrest. Dyson said more charges against Patterson are “probable.”​

A former Iredell County elementary school teacher, charged last month of multiple counts of indecent liberties, was arrested Thursday on 97 more counts after additional alleged victims came forward, authorities said. John Thomas Patterson Jr., 65, of East Stewart Avenue, Mooresville, was taken into custody on 96 counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor and one count of first-degree sex offense Thursday. He was originally arrested Feb. 15 on 14 counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor ... Gibson said that both males and females have made allegations against Patterson, but the majority of those who have come forward were boys between the ages of 9 and 11 at the time of the alleged crimes. The allegations primarily involve fondling and inappropriate touching, she said.​

The investigation surrounding alleged sexual abuse of children by a former Iredell County teacher three decades ago has grown to include at least 20 former students and more than 110 charges, the Iredell sheriff’s office says. John Thomas Patterson, 65, an elementary school teacher during the 1970s and 1980s, initially was arrested two weeks ago and charged with inappropriately touching four male students at Mount Mourne Elementary School during the mid- to late 1980s. At the time, he was charged with 14 counts of taking indecent liberties. But more witnesses and victims have come forward since that arrest, alleging additional acts dating back to the mid-1970s. Iredell Sheriff Phillip Redmond said at least 16 additional alleged victims have been identified, and he said 96 more indecent liberties charges were filed Thursday against Patterson. In addition, Redmond said, Patterson has been charged with one count of first-degree sex offense. “Most of the incidents occurred in the classroom, although there are some occasions that the abuse occurred outside the classroom,” Redmond said.​

Patterson was arrested again Thursday and was out of jail on a $350,000 bond. Deputies charged him with 96 counts of taking indecent liberties with children and one count of first-degree sex offense. In February, he was charged with 14 counts of indecent liberties ... Patterson worked at Mount Mourne Elementary in Mooresville. The Sheriff's Office said 17 victims have now come forward, saying Patterson molested them in the 1970s and 1980s.​

Deputies say 65-year-old John Thomas Patterson was arrested several weeks ago and charged with inappropriately touching several students at Mount Mourne Elementary School when he taught there in the 1980s. Patterson also faces dozens of counts of taking indecent liberties with children, as well as one charge of first-degree sex offense. Deputies say more than a dozen alleged victims have come forward and accused Patterson of fondling and inappropriately touching them.​

Authorities in Iredell County say the list of former students who say they were sexually abused by former teacher John Thomas Patterson has grown again. Patterson, who taught elementary school in Iredell County in the 1970s and 1980s, now faces 208 charges in the case -- including 97 new counts added this week, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office. The additional charges result from seven more ex-students coming forward with accusations against Patterson ... Major Darren Campbell of the sheriff’s office says there now are 14 former students who have accused Patterson of molesting them.​

John Thomas Patterson, 65, was originally arrested in February and charged with 14 counts of taking indecent liberties after an investigation was launched following allegations he touched 4-5 students in the late 1980s. He was a teacher at Mount Mourne Elementary School for 17 years ... The most recent charges against Patterson brings the total to 207 counts of taking indecent liberties and one count of first degree sex offense. The charges are for crimes against 14 different victims who were students while Patterson taught fourth grade.​

North Carolina elementary school teacher faces 208 sex-offense charges -- 97 of which were added this week to an existing 111 charges, officials said. A now-total of 14 former students have accused John Thomas Patterson, 65, of Mooresville, of molesting them while he was a fourth-grade teacher at Mount Mourne Elementary School between 1978 and 1987, when he resigned ...​